Shifting mechanism



March 1, 1938. A. M. DIEZ ET AL 2,110,038

SHIFTING MEHANISM Filed NOV. 30, 1936 Hummm] llllllmlil@ @Imuuu-111113111111 1 5/ 541/2 V Nllllmllllllllll Hlm Patented Mar. 1,1938 ananas SHIFTING MECHANISM Angel M. Diez and Trude Neuhaus May,Mexico, D. F., Mexico Application November 30, 1936, Serial No. 113,493In Mexico September 30, 1936 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a shifting mechanism designed primarily foruse in connection with the headlights of automative vehicles, but it isto be understood that the shifting mechanism, in ac cordance with thisinvention, is for use for any purpose for which it may be foundapplicable.

The invention aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, anormally inactive spring controlled manually operable shifting mechanismfor connection with the headlights of and for installation in the bodyof an automotive vehicle, and providing, when shifted from normal, tosimultaneously move the headlights to the right at an angle whereby thelight rays will be directed in a manner to prevent the sight of a driverof an oncoming vehicle from being dazzled or blinded resulting inmaterially reducing the possibility of collisions to a minimum, as wellas providing for illuminating the right side of the road and curves,thereby increasing visibility and insuring for safe driving.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a shifting mechanism for the headlights ofautomotive vehicles which is comparatively simple in its constructionand arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly eincient in itsuse, easily operated for shifting the headlights, readily assembled,having the major portion thereof protected by part of the automotivevehicle and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture,

With the foregoing and other objects which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts aswill be more specifically described and are as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationsmay be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

The spring controlled normally shiftable mechanism for headlights, inaccordance with this invention, may be installedin an automotive vehiclewhile the latter is being built or it may be installed in an automotiveVehicle after the latter has been built if its headlights are of thetype with which the mechanism may be used.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of a spring controlled manually operableshifting mechanism for the headlights of an automotive vehicle. Theheadlights as well as portions of the engine hood or motor case areshown in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of said mechanism,

Figure 3 is an elevation looking towards the inner face of the form ofthe shiftable hanger elements for the headlights,

Figure 4 is an elevation looking towards the outer face of the form offixed suspension elements for the hanger elements,

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5, Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6, Figure 2, and

Figure 7 is a section on line 1-'I, Figure 2.

With reference to Figure l, the headlights, indicated at i, 2, arepivotally mounted in a known manner adjacent the sides of the radiatorof the vehicle. The forward ends of the sides of the engine hood ormotor case are indicated at `3, 4.

The manually operated spring controlled headlight shifting mechanism, inaccordance with this invention, includes a pair of oppositely disposedhanger elements 5, 6 of like form. Each of said elements, when lookingtowards their inner face, is of elliptical contour as here shown but maybe 20 of any shape desired. The elements 5, 6 in plan are of segmentalcontour as shown but may be of any form found suitable. Each hangerelement is formed with spaced openings 7 for theV passage of holdfastdevices to iixedly secure the 25 element to the inner side of aheadlight. The hanger elements are disposed on their lower lengthwiseedges and each has secured to its inner face, at one side of itsvertical median, by the holdfast means 8 a strap 9 provided on one ofits side edges with a series of spaced superposed aligning barrels I0,II"and I2. Coacting with each hanger element and opposing the inner faceof the latter is a stationary suspension element I3 for the hangerelement. The element I3 corresponds in contour to a side 3 or l of .themotor case and is Xedly secured to the outer face of such side byholdfast means I4 extending' through the openings I5 formed in the bodyof the element I3. The element I3 is here shown of elliptical contourand segmental in planbut may be of any form and contour suited to theplace of attachment. The outer face of the body of element i3 hassecured thereto by the holdfast devices I6 a strap Il having one of itsside edges provided with a pair of spaced parallel superposed barrelsI8, i9. The element I3 is formed with a rectangular or other slot 29intersected by the longitudinal median ofr the element and extendingpartly in the space between the barrels IS, I9. A hanger element is`maintained in spaced relation by the barrels I II, I2 of the hangerelement and the barrels I8, I9 of the suspension element. The barrelsI8, I9 of the suspension element are interposed between the barrels I 0,II and I2 of the hanger element. The barrels I0, II and I2 align withthe barrels I8, I9. Extending through the aligning barrels is a pivotbar 2i which has its ends provided with suitable means, as at 23, forconnecting it to a hanger element. The latter is hinged to thesuspension element by the barrels I0, I I, I2, I8 and I9 in connectionwith the pivo-t bar 2|. When a hanger element is hinged to a suspensionelement the'straps 9, l1 are arranged in spaced parallel relation. Ahanger element is s'hiftable relative to a suspension element and whenthe hanger element is shifted the headlight which is anchored thereto iscarried therewith.

Connected to the chassis, not shown, of the vehicle is an upstandinginverted yoke-shaped support 24 consisting of a top member 25 ofangle-shape cross section andA a pair of vertically disposed sidemembers 26, 21 which abut the horizontal flange 28 of the member 24 andare also positioned against the rear face of the iiange 29 of member 25.The members 26, 21 are secured to the iiange 29 by the holdfast means39. The members 26, 21 are provided with openings 3I for the passage ofholdfast means for anchoring the support 24 to the chassis of thevehicle. The support 24 is to be arranged substantially at the rear ofthe motor case. Since the members 25, 26 and 21 form merely a base forsupporting parts of the device, these members are not 'limited in formand arrangement to the form and arrangement here shown but may be of anyform adapted for the purpose.

The flange 28 of lthe top member 25, at its center is formed with anopening 32 and extending through said opening is the reduced lowerportion 33 of a vertical post'34. The latter includes an enlargedintermediate portion 35 and a reduced upper portion 36 of greater lengththan the portion 33. The latter, at its lower end, is

' upset, as at 31, against the lower face of the flange 28.v The post 34is of circular cross section and it also includes an intermediateportion 38 of greater diameter and of less length than the portion 35.The latter is of greater f diameter than the portions 33, 36. Mounted on1 and seated on lever 39 is a washer 4 I.

- of the flange 28 of member 25 is` a coil controlling spring 43. Oneend of spring 43 is extended, as at 44, and bent, as at 45, to engagethe rear edge of iiange 28 of member 25. 'I'he other end of spring 43 isextended, as at 46, and bent, as at 41, to overlap the lever 39 at theforward edge ofthe latter.

The flange 28 of member 5, at a point between the opening 32 and one'side edge thereof, is

,A formed with an opening 48 through which extends the reduced lower end49 of vertical post 50. The latter includes an intermediate portion 5Iand a top portion 52. The post 5,9 is of circular cross section and hasits portion 5I of materially greater diameter than its portion 49 andits portion 52 of materially greater diameter than its portion 5I. Theportion 52 of post 56 aligns with the portion 38 of post 34. The lowerend of the portion 49 is upset, as at 53, and binds against the lower`face of the ange 28. Surf position shown in Figure 1. act toy restorethe movable elements of the mechrounding the portion 5I of post 56 is acoil controlling spring 54 having one end extended, as at 55, and bent,as at 56, to abut the front of the member 25. The other end of thespring 54 is extended, as at 51, and is bent, as at 58, to overlap thelever 39 and abut the rear edge of the latter. The portion 52 of thepost 54 provides a support for lever 39. The portion 38 of post 34 andthe portion 52 of post 5I) maintains the lever 39 in superposed relationwith respect to the member 25 of support 24. The lever 39, in proximityto each end thereof, is formed with an opening and the said openings areindicated at 60, 6I.

The mechanism includes horizontally disposed controlling rods 62, 63having vertically disposed downwardly extending rear end terminalportions 64, 65 respectively which depend through the openings 69, 6Irespectively and are connected to the lever 39 by the cotter pins 66.The rods 62, 63 extend forwardly from the lever 39 and are looselyconnected, as at 61, 68, to the eyes 69, 19 formed on the inner ends ofa pair of shifting elements 1I, 12 respectively which extend through theopenings 29 in the suspension elements i3 and are fixedly secured, as at13, 14, to the inner faces of the hanger elements 5, 6 respectively.

There is associated with the actuating lever 39 an operating levertherefor. The operating lever is indicated generally at 14 and is formedof a pair of arms 15, 16 disposed at opposite outward inclinations withrespect to each other. ,The arms of lever 14 are interposed betweenlever 39 and the member 25 of support 24. The arm 15 of lever 14 is ofgreater length than the arm 16. The latter, intermediate its ends, ispivotally connected, as at 11, to the flange 28 of the member 25 betweenthe opening 32 and the other side edge of flange 28. The lever 14 isarranged in close proximity to the upper `face of the flange 28 ofmember 25 and is maintained in spaced relation relative to flange 28 bya washer 18. The arms 15, 16 of lever 14 extend rearwardly beyond therear lengthwise edge of flange 28. The rear ends of the arms 15, 16 haveanchored thereto vertically disposed posts 19, 89 respectively. Theposts 19, 89 are arranged rearwardly of the rear lengthwise edge oflever 39 and extend above lever 39. The post 19 is of greater height andthickness than the post 89 and has fixed thereto, in proximity to itsupper end, a pair of spaced parallel collarsv 8l which connect a pullingelement 82 to post 19. The element 82 is of a length 'to extend into thevehicle and is under the control of the driver.

The movable elements of the mechanism are maintained normally by thesprings 53, 54 in the These springs also anism after the latter has beenshifted to the position shown in Figure 1.

By pulling the element 82 rearwardly, the post 89 will contact with thelever 39 and shift the latter in a manner to move the pull rod 63forward and the pull rod 62 rearward. When the rods move in suchdirection the headlight 2 is shifted at an angle to the right andsimultaneously with the shifting of the headlight 2 in a manner asstated the headlight I will be shifted at an angle to the right.

A hanger element and its associated suspension element are furthermaintained in spaced relation by a stop 83 onthe outer face of thehanger element near one end of the latter and which abuts the outer faceof its associated suspension element near one end of the latter.

Although the preferred contour and arrangement of the operating lever 74is as shown, yet it may be of any suitable contour and arrangement whichis capable, when pulled, of operating the lever 39.

The springs which engage with the lever 39 also function to return theheadlights to the normal position thereof.

The pull element 82 and the automobile may be provided with any suitablecoacting means for detachably holding element 82 in pulled position whendesired.

The elements 5, 6 and I3 may be notched at their lower edges as at 84 toprovide passage for the light cables carrying current to the headlights.

What we claim is:

l. In a mechanism for simultaneously shifting a pair of vehicleheadlights in a like direction, a support adapted to be fixedly securedto and transversely of the chassis of the vehicle at a pointintermediate the ends of the chassis, a pair of shiftable hangerelements, each xed to the inner side of a headlight, a pair ofstationary suspension elements each adapted to be fixedly secured to theforward part of the outer face of a side of a motor case, means forhinging the hanger elements to the suspension elements, said meansconstituting suspensions for the hanger elements, a spring controlledpivotally supported actuating element arranged over said support, a pairof spaced controlling rods extending forwardly from and connected to theends of said actuating element, a pair of oppositely disposed shiftingelements adapted to extend through the sides of the motor case, saidshifting elements loosely connected to the forward ends of said rods,extending through the suspension elements adjacent to said hinging meansand xedly secured to said hanger elements, and an operating leverpivotally connected to said support and provided With means for shiftingthe actuating element to provide for said rods and shiftable hangerelements shifting said headlights simultaneously in a like direction.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having the means on saidoperating lever being in the form of a post at one end of said lever forriding against an edge of said actuating element.

ANGEL M. DIEZ. .TRUDE NEUHAUS MAY.

